If you're part of the growing number of Americans who oppose DEI, this is your chance to speak up and make a difference. The more comments, the better! 

Public comments are effective at slowing proposed standards. At times comments have even changed policy.

Write your comment from the press release, or check down thread for more talking points.

The form to submit public comments is here.

MDHHS Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 21, 2023

MDHHS Office of Equity and Minority Health seeking public comments
on proposed race and ethnicity data collection standards

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Office of Equity and Minority Health (OEMH) is inviting Michigan residents to provide feedback on proposed race and ethnicity data collection standards through a multilingual public comment form and upcoming online community conversations.

"Data is critical to our efforts to reduce health disparities and promote health equity,” said MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel. “Accurate and consistent data collection is needed to make informed decisions and it is essential that MDHHS’ data accurately reflects the population's diversity."

To enhance inclusivity and community engagement, MDHHS is making the public comment form available in English, Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin. This request for public feedback aims to ensure a diverse range of community members can actively participate and share their insights and perspectives. The form is open for responses until Jan. 12, 2024.

"All voices are vital in shaping policies and initiatives that eliminate health inequities and improve health outcomes for everyone,” said Brenda Jegede, Office of Equity and Minority Health manager. “We encourage everyone to provide feedback to the newly proposed standards."

A series of community conversations being hosted by MDHHS are also being hosted online in December.

Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 to 11:30 a.m. RSVP online.
Hispanic or Latino: Tuesday, Dec. 12, 3 to 4:30 p.m. RSVP online.
General Public: Thursday, Dec. 14, 3 to 4:30 p.m. RSVP online.
African American and Middle Eastern North African community conversations were held in October.

MDHHS’ OEMH was created in 1988 and is the third oldest minority health office in the United States. Since its inception, OEMH has dedicated its efforts to assuring health equity and eliminating health disparities among Michigan's racial and ethnic populations, including African Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Arab and Chaldean Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Hispanics/Latinos.

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https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/inside-mdhhs/newsroom/2023/11/21/comment-card

More about the OEMH from its web page within MDHHS:

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/multihealth

MISSION: To provide a persistent and continuing focus on assuring health equity and eliminating health disparities among Michigan's populations of color.

• American Indians/Alaska Natives
• Arab and Chaldean Americans
• Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
• Black/African Americans
• Hispanics/Latinos

OEMH major activities are:

• To support and initiate programs, policies, and applied research to address social determinants of health that contribute to health inequities for racial and ethnic minority populations in Michigan;
• To collaborate in the development of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services prevention, health service delivery, and research strategies in an effort to improve health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority populations in Michigan; and,
• To facilitate implementation of culturally and linguistically appropriate health services throughout the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.